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Best Scriptures for Health and Weight Loss

Does reaching your healthy living goals seem impossible? Don’t miss these powerful Scriptures for health and weight loss to help you finally break free and create healthy habits that last a lifetime.

Confession. I’ve started my health and wellness journey over more times than I can count. I would eagerly jump on the weight loss bandwagon, just to be sidetracked and detailed by life and even my own sabotaging. Truthfully,  I never seemed able to make lasting healthy habits.

Then God’s gentle conviction began to take root in my heart. Quickly, He showed me how food had become my idol and I was losing the battle each time I failed to honor him with healthy habits.

However grace flows freely, and God is faithful to not only forgive, but to guide our steps on a journey towards weight loss and a healthier lifestyle.

He gently points us back to His Word, where He sheds light on how we, His children, can conquer the battle of the bulge. This victory is found at the foot of the cross, where we trust Him and believe that He will deliver us from ourselves.

With that knowledge, I knew there was only one way to finally honor God with my health and create a healthy lifestyle I could sustain.  Using Scripture as my sword, each time I lusted after food, I would pray these powerful Scriptures.

Praying Scriptures for health and weight loss became a turning point in my health journey, and a solution anyone struggling with weight loss or getting healthy can use.

Best Scriptures for Health and Weight Loss

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.  2 Timothy 1:7

Since God promises to be our source of strength and to always provide a way out of temptation, we are set free from the bondage of food addiction!

Instead of dreaming about a decadent dessert or throwing a pity party over the food we can’t have, we are strong in Christ to step away from temptation when it knocks on our door.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

When you enter into a personal relationship with Jesus, we are no longer slaves to what holds up back. In Christ, our sins and short comings are erased, and we are made new. Therefore, in Christ, our tendency to overeat and live unhealthy has no hold on us! We are free!

Sacrament of communion, Eucharist symbol

For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish. Jeremiah 31:25

Each time I search for comfort and solace in forms other than God, it’s sin. While it’s humbling to realize I’m quicker to grab some chocolate as comfort instead of pouring out my troubles in prayer, I know the joy I get from eating is only temporary. 

Ultimately, God is the only lasting source of joy and satisfaction. When we seek comfort elsewhere, we take Him off His throne and make food our idol instead. Plus, being fully satisfied by Jesus instead of food means that we are able to finally live on purpose for the glory of God.

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For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11

We are not here by accident or by chance. God created us with the purpose and to live according to His plan, yet often we’re hindered by our health as a result of poor choices.

But it’s not too late.

For me, God has clearly shown me that in order to move forward with His plan for my life, it’s time to get serious about making and maintaining healthy choices. Is He calling you to do the same?

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.  1 Corinthians 6:19-20

When you’re trying to lose weight, food calls you by name and temptations lurk around every corner.  You may wonder how you’ll survive those moments of weakness, let alone successfully lose a few pounds.

Yet your body is a temple of God and when you resist the temptation of food, you honor God with the body He’s given you.

 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”  I Corinthians 10:13

Food is tempting and when it’s a weakness, the evil will one will use it as a stumbling block to make us fall and to live defeated.

But there’s hope.

God has given us everything we need to overcome temptation.  In fact, Jesus was tempted in the dessert by food after fasting for 40 days and 40 nights in Matthew 6. How did He handle temptation?  He quoted Scripture back to the evil one and stood firm!

Friends, we can do the same!  Hide Scripture in your heart, and claim it in those moments of weakness!

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7

Have you noticed that when you try to stand on your own for self-control, your will is weak and you can’t muster the strength to turn down temptation?

The Lord’s strength gives you the ability to restrain yourself and resist food.

That’s right!  You can turn down that brownie and you can put down the bag of chips, because the power of the Lord has already given you the ability to say no.

His power is how you stop eating and break the chains of food addiction!

The strength of the Lord motivates you to exercise in those moments of laziness.

His grace allows you to forgive yourself in those times when you fall and binge.

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139: 14

You are beautiful, no matter how much weight you have to lose, because you are created in God’s image.  You were fearfully and wonderfully made with love.

Therefore, love yourself on your  journey through weight loss and getting healthy.

May you realize there is so much more to you than a number on a scale. You are a child of God.

No matter what your dress size, He loves you as you are and calls you beloved.

Friend, your worth rests in Him, not in pounds or inches.

That’s a reason to smile with self-control, resisting the evil one, knowing that the God of all creation has given you the ability to stand firm in Him and to be thankful for the body He’s blessed you with.

How do you love yourself on this journey and remember you are beautifully created in God’s image?

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17 Comments

  1. Hi, Sarah Ann, it’s me from Grace and Truth link-up again. I’m loving your content this week! I have a favor to ask. I’d love to feature this post next week on my site, as well as pin it to our group board. Unfortunately, the rules require you to link back if you’d like to be featured. Please let me know if I’ve missed your link back, or if you’ve added one since receiving this note. I want to spread the word about your post as much as I can, but I’m bound by the rules agreed upon by the ten hostesses. Thanks!
    Jen 🙂

    1. Thanks, Jen! I would be honored if you featured my post and promise I will link it back to you. My kids distracted me and I knew I would have to come back later! Ha! Many blessings to you!

  2. Such great truth here! Thank you for sharing with us at Grace & Truth. I love the reminder that God gives us self-control. That’s one that doesn’t usually make other lists of “how to handle food”. That’s the one that is going to stick for me! Thank you!

    1. I know! Self-control can seem so daunting and so overwhelming, yet it doesn’t have to be! God does equip us with the strength in His name to say no!

  3. I love this, Sarah Ann, because our God is always for us! He never asks us to do something that He won’t help us with.

    In 1 Corinthians, He does ask us to care for our bodies (and for a very good reason!).

    And He has given us the power of the Holy Spirit, of which is the fruit of self-control. He never leaves us alone to figure things out in our own strength What an incredible God we serve! Amen?

    “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” ~1 Corinthians 10:31

    Thank you for sharing this encouraging post. This isn’t an easy thing, but it is an important one.

    Blessings.

    1. Absolutely, Heather! I love that He gives us the tools for self-control and the verses to combat the evil one in times of temptation. Thanks for adding to my growing list of verses I love on my weight loss journey!

  4. Thank you so much for this. I have lost a lot of weight in the past very passionate about taking care of my body – to serve Him!. I love the verse you used about temptation will stick with me. “he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear”
    Thanks again
    (Found you at the Grace and Truth Link-up)

    1. What a blessing to connect with you and I can’t wait to check out your blog! It seems as though we have so much in common! It’s great to surround yourself in Scripture always, but especially during weight loss.

  5. I identify with this post so much! With the struggle to overcome gluttony. With the sober awareness of my responsibility to steward well the gift of health God has given me. And with the freedom that comes when I put God back into the equation. I’ve written about these topics before on my own blog, and those posts seemed to strike a chord with my readers. So I know they’ll appreciate reading your post as my feature this week at Grace & Truth. Thanks so much for linking up, and for sharing so transparently and truthfully!

    1. Thank you so much, Jennifer! I am so flattered and know that so many can relate to the struggle with weight. Many blessings to you on your own journey!

  6. Hi Sarah Ann,

    Thanks for sharing your story and what God is showing you in the Scriptures. It’s really encouraging. I’ve been sharing my own journey with nutrition in a blog too. My guess is, there are quite a few of us who want to glorify God more with our bodies. Keep it up. 🙂

    Jon

    1. Thanks, Jon! It’s always a blessing to meet like-minded bloggers. I look forward to following you and seeing what you share!

  7. ohhhh, I gave up sweets for Lent and I totally needed this post! Thank you SO much.

    1. Good for you! I am almost finished with the Whole30, where you detox from carbs, sugars, and other unhealthy foods for 30 days. It’s amazing what God gives you the strength to do!

  8. Well I am late In reading this post, since I just discovered your blog today. I must say that I needed to read this particular post. My baby(#4) is 18 months old, and I am still hanging on to “baby weight” and cannot get out of the rut of eating for 2. Eating healthy, and cooking healthy isn’t a strong possibility on a consistent basis in our season of life right now. I so desparetly need to cling to Him and stay focused on cleansing His temple. Your testimony was good for my heart. Thank you.

    1. I am so thankful it blessed you! It’s good that you recognize what you’re not capable of, and can focus on baby steps and self-control. I’ve found that focusing on the Lord, instead of food, has helped me tremendously!

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